Spiderman Preview Thread!- Page 27

[leefowler]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 12:33pm

I'm not a fan of the score, but I have to say it didn't feel "lazy". That is, it sounds like Bono and The Edge really worked hard on it. There's a lot of new songs written for this show, and this score is ambitious in a lot of ways.

The problem is that their style of song writing doesn't have much variety in it, so, in the context of this big spectacle, it sounds dour and uninspired. If this had been released first as a concept album by U2, I think it could have been well received.

[helloworld2]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 12:35pm

I get the feeling that Julie Taymor's attitude is somewhat like "if you don't get it, you must not be up to my level" as opposed to "since everyone's not getting it, it must be wrong".

[americanboy99]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 12:35pm

I'm still confused as to how the story is functioning without Harry (James Franco in the film).

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 12:45pm

Someone correct me if I am wrong but Bono and The Edge wrote the music as two individuals, not as the group U2 which has a two other members. I am assuming the song written by "U2" included Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr.

[Midnight Radio]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 12:50pm

This all reminds me of Tim Gunn's quote about the monkey house at the zoo...

“I have this refrain about the monkey house at the zoo. When you first enter into the monkey house at the zoo, you think, ‘Oh my god this place stinks!’ And then after you’re there for 20 minutes you think, ‘it’s not so bad’ and after you’re there for an hour it doesn’t smell at all. And anyone entering the monkey house freshly thinks, ‘this stinks!’ You've been living in the monkey house.”

Julie Taymor has been living in the monkey house!

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 12:55pm

I would suspect it might be the other way around with her shows. To use that analogy, I didn't realize I was in "the monkey house" with The Lion King until about 20 minutes after the show. Just my opinion.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 12:58pm

I think I made it about 25 into LION KING before deciding I'd be much happier anywhere else in the world at that moment, and, yes, that includes the remotest and hostile territory that exists on this planet, Earth.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 1:05pm

"Someone correct me if I am wrong but Bono and The Edge wrote the music as two individuals, not as the group U2 which has a two other members. I am assuming the song written by "U2" included Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr."

I haven't seen the show and have no direct knowledge of this, but I think you're right. Many of U2's albums have the same sort of notations about the authorship of their songs. Generally with their music, it's the other way around, with the whole group collaborating and the occasional song written by just Bono and the Edge, or sometimes just the Edge.

Interestingly, that's the only song I've heard that really sounds like I expected the others to, and perhaps it's because of Mullen and Clayton's contributions.

[andsym9001]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 2:56pm

I was at the second preview last night. Everything i claim below is my own opinion as an avid theatre goer and theatre student. SPOILERS THROUGHOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
First of all the theatre set up is really cool when you first walk in. Everything is extended past the proscenium. I agree with others thought that the GEEK CHORUS needs to be reworked to not be so awkward or completely taken out. It adds nothing to the story, just acts as a delay for them to set up for the next scene. It cheapens the production and made me feel like i was watching a show at Universal Islands of Adventure whenever they came on to "narrate" the story. The opening is great and well thought out. The design of the show is completely Taymor, everything is whimsical and comic book/3d forced prospective pop up and it really tricked my eyes several times. Use of the tredmil is effective in both acts for me. The book is WHACK, just saying, very confusing, almost think they should focus on Arachne and Goblin and take out others. Sets are absolutely unlike anything i've ever seen. It takes a true genius to imagine all of it. The flying is incredible and left me with my jaw on the floor at certain points. The flying is still a little rough and gasps can be heard at certain moments like when Spiderman suddenly drops 40 feet into the orchestra aisle and causes everyone around him to wet themselves. Costumes are creative, and the Arachne design was genius to me. Especially when she enters from the balcony and does that song. My opinion is that the music was 60 percent crap. There were half a dozen good songs to me, nothing brilliant, but only those few that didn't sound unenjoyable. I'm not sure how much they are thinking of working on the book and score during previews because they are so focused on the technical aspect. If they widen their rehearsals to book and score they could really have something great. I could not hear any of the lyrics for many of the group songs except for the introducing of Arachne which was absolutely gorgeous with the weaving. I think Reeve Carney's voice cracked at some of the high notes in his final songs. Jenn Damiano has an exceptional voice and saves this mediocre score from drowning. Isabel Keating is absolutely wasted. Patrick Page is perfect. None of the actors except Mr. Page stood out for me at all. Overall I give the show right now like a 6.9. Taking into account the fact that it was their second performance I give it a 8. Much work needs to be done, but their is promise and if nothing else, see it for Julie Taymor's visuals. Anymore questions let me know. :)

[PopAria]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 3:19pm

so sad that everyone thinks the music is whack. I wonder what it would have been like if Cold Play wrote the music instead? OR BETTER YET Max Martin!
:)

Can't wait to see this to judge for myself.

[twinbelters]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 5:08pm

I was just thinking that Howard Ashman and Alan Menken would have written a killer Spidey musical.

I could see it being very pop-art and focusing on a Mary Jane/Gwen Stacy triangle. Maybe Kitty Pryde could be pining for Peter as well? (= Just thinking how we can have the musical contain songs that girls across the country would want to sing in their bedrooms with a brush as a microphone. Represent, Marvel girls!

Glad you liked it andsym. Been wondering, what's the souvenir stand offering?

[andsym9001]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 6:22pm

twinbelters-The souvenir stand was cheep looking. They had a window card, a magnet, a mouse pad, and prolly some other small stuff as well as a bunch of different t shirts with just spiderman on them not saying the show or anything just the shows logo. Kinda like the curtain I guess.

[twinbelters]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 6:37pm

I'd gladly purchase a magnet.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 6:37pm

Hah! Twinbelters- I would die for a MJ/Gwen counterpoint that would make good hair brush singing!

andsym- was there a duet or if so, how many duets between Peter and MJ? I am not ashamed to say that I read comics 50% for the superhero action and such and 50% for the sappy love stories in them. Though I'd have to say aside from early 2000 Ultimate Spider-man, I'm a DC girl through and through.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 6:37pm

They have already opened the "spidey store" on their website. I collect t-shirts but I refuse to pay 40 bucks for one. The tote bags are cheaper than the tees and the magnets, which I collect, are 10 bucks.

[rorschach37]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 6:45pm

Just cut the Geek Chorus and give them other roles. Harry Osborn, for example????!!

[andsym9001]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 6:46pm

Katurian- If i remember correctly there are about 3 full songs that are just Peter and MJ. One in the very begining where they aren't singing to each other. One at the beginning of act 2 i think. And one towards the end I think. Some of the harmonies were really beautiful especially with Jen's voice.

[strummergirl]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 7:35pm

I was just browsing through the online store. uncageg wasn't kidding. $40 for those t-shirts?!?!? Much better off sorting through the normal Spiderman t-shirts available all over the interwebs and pretty much any retail store.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 7:39pm

^ Hey, they gotta make back that 65 mil somehow.

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 8:08pm

Now a leading character has a concussion...shocking
Really? Their saying they have no idea if it's performance related but it seems like a VERY large coincidence if she did it outside of a show that has a reputation for being pretty unsteady

Updated On: 12/2/10 at 08:08 PM

[leefowler]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 8:23pm

If this is performance/rehearsal related, it will be a VERY big deal.

[JasonM12480]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 8:26pm

I'm sorry...who's in charge of this rampaging hippopotamus on steroids?? Why is NO ONE stepping in to be sincerely concerned with the actors' safety? When your lead actress gets a concussion, it's time to shut the thing down, step back, and seriously look at what's going on. IT'S NOT WORTH IT!! What on earth are they doing over there?

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 8:39pm

Okay not to jump the gun before we know if this was related to the show...but we can suspect that it is...
But really? Before this was just a big joke...the two actors getting hurt was something that we took notice but after safety inspections we all could breath and focus on the flaws the show had in terms of substance.
But now..when they are supposed to have their crap together in terms of tech. stuff (at least to the point where the actors are safe) this happens??? This is not funny anymore...Taymor has actors flying around the stage at 50 mph...and now someone has a concussion...that is potentially serious.
Accidents do happen...shows like Phantom, Wicked, Lion King have had injuries before but they were 1 in a million and the actors were not hurt badly and the producers looked in and moved on. But this show is a deathtrap!

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 8:41pm

A, we don't even know she got it in the show
B, Do you have any idea how many actors, dancers get injured on stage? it happens

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 12/2/10 at 8:46pm

Yes but never in a show this complicated in terms of flying the actors.
Yes, actors and dancers hurt themselves, but they are not usually strapped into a harness flying around the entire theater at high speeds, jumping on other actors backs, expected to land on tiny platforms up in the balconies.
This show is a show unlike any other. This is something the producers have made very clear...safety should be the top priority.
Yes, an accident...but in a show like this its something that needs to be looked into much more then just a dancer falling onstage.
And I agree...we have no idea if this is related to the show or not but the show does not have a great track record with safety